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Sports & Community Development in Zambia

Quick Facts

Livingstone, Zambia

Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport

Every Monday

10 days - 12 weeks

Impact: Sports Development

$1495 – $4695
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Put your passion for sports, fitness, wellness, and nutrition to great use as you educate and train school students in the rural villages of Livingstone. Physical education does not form part of the school curriculum in Zambia, and with limited resources, and a lack of skilled coaches, your input is vital to ensure these children stay active and learn to enjoy exercise. Physical education improves self-confidence, teamwork, mental and physical health, as well as helps develop life skills, that would otherwise be lacking.

Read about a previous volunteer’s Favourite Parts of Her Volunteer Trip to Livingstone, Zamiba. 

Project Highlights

Bring a fun, creative and dynamic approach to delivering sport lessons to children of primary school age

Bring your skills from home and assist with a variety of after-school sports clubs

Teach lessons on physical health and general life skills at schools, focusing on issues like hygiene, nutrition, communication and teamwork

Observe progression, improved skills and confidence amongst the local children first hand

Be immersed into the community and help to empower and influence all ages with a sense of self-worth

Offer children enriching stimulation through a variety of afternoon community development projects

Meet the friendliest, most warm hearted, gracious, determined and zealous African people, who are guaranteed to inspire and motivate.

Visit the majestic Victoria Falls, also known as “The Smoke that Thunders” and enjoy some of the amazing tourist activities that Livingstone has to offer

The Destination

Volunteers sitting and talking around fires at Victoria Falls Backpackers in Zambia
A photograph of a colourful communal seating area at Victoria Falls Backpackers in Zambia
Volunteers seated at backpackers accommodation
Volunteers seated at accommodation area

Livingstone is a beautiful, rural town in southern Zambia just a stone’s throw away from the mighty Zambezi river and the border of Zimbabwe. It is a hub for visitors looking to experience one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World – Victoria Falls, locally known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, ‘the Smoke that Thunders’. Livingstone is the ultimate playground for adventure-seekers, wildlife enthusiasts, and lovers of the great outdoors. Whether you’d like to bungee jump, swim in the ‘Devil’s Pool’, white water raft down the Zambezi, join a river safari or enjoy an African sunset, every experience in Livingstone is unique. The town itself is relaxed and friendly with an intriguing culture and history. Here, you’ll find arts and craft producers, museums, colonial architecture, traditional village life, as well as delicious local food and laidback African lifestyle. 

You’ll be staying in the heart of Livingstone at a private volunteer house within the popular and vibrant Victoria Falls Backpackers Zambia. This comfortable backpackers’ is 15 minutes from Victoria Falls and is a 5 minute walk from Livingstone’s town centre which has many stores and a great selection of cafes and restaurants for you to explore at weekends.

You will have access to a swimming pool, lounge, bar, fire pit area and even a climbing wall! These communal areas offer the perfect space to get to know each other and relax at the end of the day. Bedrooms are dormitory style with bunk beds and shared bathroom facilities, as well as daily housekeeping. The staff can share knowledge about the area and are happy to help organize river cruises, canoe safaris, and trips to Chobe National Park. You won’t want to leave your “new home” as the staff will become your new family!

You will receive three fresh and delicious meals a day cooked by local chefs during the week. For breakfast you can expect cereal and toast, along with a cooked option such as eggs, pancakes or French toast. Lunch could be a wrap, pizza or sandwich paired with a fresh crispy salad. For dinner you might have a pasta dish, curry with rice or an authentic stew. Vegetarian options are available and we can cater to most dietary requirements. At weekends you will have access to the kitchen to make your own food, though most volunteers choose to visit local cafes and restaurants. Café Zambezi makes great traditional Zambian food and is a favourite amongst locals, while Maramba River Lodge is a popular spot for sundowners and Fez Bar is a popular place to hang out with locals and do a little dancing in the evenings!

To keep in touch with family and friends back home, Victoria Falls Backpackers has complimentary WiFi for you to use during your stay. You can also purchase a SIM card with data bundles if you wish.

Weather in Livingstone tends to be stable and sunny from August until late October when the “monsoon” rains start to hit. Either side of this time, the weather is very pleasant. The climate is tropical or sub-tropical depending on altitude, with a hot, humid, and rainy season from mid-November to March and a dry season from April to mid-November. October is typically the hottest month of the year.

Project Impact Areas

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PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES

With physical education lacking from the Zambian curriculum, it is an unfamiliar concept to most community schools, but with your support as volunteers, we can help change attitudes on health, fitness, and nutrition. The children absolutely love these lessons so please bring your passion and energy in abundance as you track student progress and witness their growth.

You’ll volunteer once a week at five different schools, running physical education classes, teaching the students new games and designing new lessons to educate students both in a theoretical and practical sense, allowing for more in-depth training and skill development.. The physical education classes we run will also allow you to use your initiative and creativity to relate your sessions to an aspect of health, such as nutrition, or even an upcoming event such as the Olympics or the World Cup. Should you have expertise in a specific sport, you can teach an entire lesson focused on it.

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HEALTH CLUB

Join us on a vital 2-hour session every Wednesday afternoon where you and your fellow volunteers will educate children aged 10-13 at a local community school on a variety of health topics. Cover important subjects in an interactive way to ensure learning is fun and relevant with tangible improvements in knowledge as you deliver these sessions to a group of approximately 20. In the past, we have covered subjects such as fire prevention, wound dressing, hygiene, a healthy diet, and exercise, but we welcome your suggestions for new topics. 

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TRAINING LOCAL TEAMS

Working with various local sports organizations, provincial and district ministries for sports, and other NGOs, you will have the opportunity to coach sporting teams as well as to teach new drills to the coaches. African Impact has a strong partnership with the TAG Rugby Trust, which means you will coach large groups of enthusiastic children in an exciting new sport. With the opportunity to utilize your skills in the development of local coaches, you can help further increase the sustainability of this project. Furthermore, as a sports coach, you will have the opportunity to coach football, volleyball, basketball, netball, rugby, or any other sport you would like to introduce to the children during afterschool clubs, community sports days, and holiday clubs. The African Impact Sports Project also supports the government fun run and awareness days.  

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SPECIALISED SPORTS

Your schedule is set for you by your Project Manager; however, if you have any particular interests or skills you would like to use, we would love to try and accommodate them! The children at the schools are always keen to learn new activities – particularly if they come from overseas!! We can set up a class for you to teach netball, yoga, athletics, cricket, Aussie rules, baseball, or whatever your interest is. Equipment is very difficult to come by so please keep that in mind, if you are able to acquire donated sporting equipment, the community will greatly appreciate it.

sports-coaching-community-development-zambia

HOLIDAY CLUB

During school vacation time volunteers run “holiday clubs.” Holiday club is extremely important as it offers students valuable time to catch up on learning missed due to the Zambian “Hot Seating” system. Not only does it give young people a safe environment to spend their summer holidays, it is also a lot of fun whilst providing an effective educational tool. You’ll work closely with our teaching volunteers to teach lessons for the first half of the morning and then engage the students in recreational activities and teach the importance of a healthy lifestyle. For self-starters, holiday club is a fantastic way to direct instruction for a few weeks and leave your mark on the students. 

Recent Reviews

“Overall, it was a great experience. I loved meeting and becoming friends with other volunteers who were all different ages and from different countries. Our coordinators were fun and approachable, and you could tell they were passionate about the different projects. Livingstone was awesome because I could ask to be on different projects, and they were very flexible and accommodating. The kids in the sport program were so quick at learning and a lot of fun to be around every day. I was able to make up my own activities and was trusted to run sessions with over 40 kids! Highly recommended!”
Justin Gates, Australia Sport & Community Development - Zambia
“Volunteering with African Impact in Livingstone has been an incredible experience. Upon arrival, I could not have imagined that I would train with the Zambian national rugby team, walk with rhinos and zip-line across the falls before my stay was complete. The hands-on nature of the projects is a great way to engage with the local community and also develop useful skills for the future. On the sports project, we quickly became familiar with some useful phrases in nyanja (much to the amusement of the children) and days out like the village tour allowed us to experience the village way of life ad taste the local delicacies. In short, we have met some incredible people in an incredible place, and we have had an incredible time.”
Sam Bishop, UK Sport & Community Development - Zambia
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Other Activities

Livingstone, Zambia is safari country. Here, you can spot a whole lot of wildlife, with elephants being particularly prevalent along the river banks. do rhino bushwalks or even take a boat safari to spot elephants off the Zambezi River. Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park offers a convenient safari where you can spot elephant, zebra and more, against beautiful backdrops of the Zambezi River. The real highlight of the park is the re-introduced white rhino, which you can track on foot in a thrilling wildlife encounter! A water safari is also a fantastic way to see wildlife grazing on the river banks – expect elephants, hippos and crocodiles. Across the border in Botswana is Chobe National Park, famed for its huge elephant population (currently estimated at over 120,000!). An overnight safari to this National Park is a popular weekend activity that many past volunteers have enjoyed.

Livingstone is known as “Africa’s Adventure Capital” because there is so much to see and do. Take advantage of your proximity to the great and mighty Victoria Falls, as well as the other adventures the Zambezi has to offer. Zambezi boat cruises, white water rafting, and canoe trips are all ways in which you can encounter these great waters. You can also ride quad bike trails, swim in “Devil’s Pool” (seasonal) or view the breath-taking scenery from the air in a microlight or helicopter. For the adrenaline junkies, why not try the famous bungee jump or gorge swing?

Livingstone has a rich culture and you can embark on a walking or cycling village tour to a local African village, giving you further insight into the traditional way of life. You can also shop at some of the many markets and stock up on locally hand-made goods for your loved ones back home or find interesting local foods to try.

Apply Now

Once you have submitted your application, a Destination Specialist will be in-touch to discuss the project with you.

Step 1
Select your Start Date
29 May 2023 5 Jun 2023 12 Jun 2023 19 Jun 2023 26 Jun 2023 3 Jul 2023 10 Jul 2023 17 Jul 2023 24 Jul 2023 31 Jul 2023 7 Aug 2023 14 Aug 2023

STEP 2

Select your Duration
10 days $1495
2 weeks $1695
3 weeks $1995
4 weeks $2295
5 weeks $2595
6 weeks $2895
7 weeks $3195
8 weeks $3495
9 weeks $3795
10 weeks $4095
11 weeks $4395
12 weeks $4695

Project Fee Includes

  • Accommodation throughout your stay
  • 3 meals a day cooked by a local chef (weekdays only)
  • Airport pick-up and drop-off
  • Transport to and from project
  • 24/7 support from experienced international and local staff
  • Full orientation to ensure you contribute responsibly
  • Project equipment and resources

Project Fee Excludes

  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Visa-related costs
  • Weekend trips or tours not on the itinerary
  • Snacks, soft drinks, gifts, and souvenirs
  • Laundry
  • Mandatory contribution of US$25 that is donated to the African Impact Sustainability Fund
Apply Now